About EFLA

FOUNDATION

The European Association for Food Law is a non-governmental organisation under Belgian law. It was established on 4 May 1973 at the Institut d'Etudes européennes (Institute of European Studies) of the Free University of Brussels (ULB), in the course of an Assembly which brought together numerous specialists in the law and the sciences of Food from different countries of Western Europe. A statutes project had been established by Mr Alain Gérard, former Secretary General of the EFLA. The statutes were adopted by the inaugural Assembly, then approved by Royal Decree on 8 October 1973, attributing to the EFLA a legal personality under Belgian law. In order to bring the EFLA statutes in line with the new European rules on non-profit making international organisations, these statutes were amended in 2010.

OBJECTIVES, STRUCTURE AND OPERATION

The National Sections of the EFLA

The national sections of the EFLA are not, according to the terms of the statutes, constituent or necessary components of the Association. Every national section can have itself officially recognised by the Board, according to the conditions which it determines, but the EFLA is not an association that federates the various national associations at European level. A national section, if it exists, pursues the same goals as the Association, but within a framework that is more limited geographically. Each section presents a report of its activities, if requested at the General Assembly. It is necessary to emphasise the importance of the role played by the national sections. They constitute a precious source of information and of human and scientific contacts, as well as a framework especially adapted to the development of mutual cooperation. Because they are closer to the members, they constitute a good source of contacts and of new registrations. In part they have the responsibility for 'proselytising' within the Association. The frequent organisation of seminars or of conferences of a local (or international) nature allows the national sections to make the EFLA known in the regions where they are established, thus contributing to developing the influence and the credibility of the Association. Up to the present time national sections have been formed in Belgium and Germany.